There are some foods that are hailed as the perfect way to pep up and protect your immune system. But did you know mushrooms are on that list? Probably not!
Surprisingly to many, mushrooms are actually the perfect food for you to either introduce into your diet or increase your intake, to support your immune system. The immune system is used to coming into contact with colds, tummy bugs, and so much more. All those things will test your immune system. However, there is something you can do to work your immune system out without getting sick. This is by taking something that is called an immuno-modulator, or an immune stimulant.
Say hello to mushrooms.
While many people worry when they hear the term medicinal mushroom, it is important to know that mushrooms have been used in medicine for thousands of years. They are now rising in popularity once again – with good reason. These little fungi are jam-packed with antioxidants, brain-boosting goodies, and each mushroom brings something else into the mix.
Here is your guide to which mushrooms will give your immune system a boost, and details of the good stuff they are packed with.
Shiitake
These mushrooms have long been known as a superfood, as they are absolutely brimming with minerals, vitamins, and enzymes that are essential to many of our bodily functions. They are a brilliant choice of mushroom to help boost your immune system as they have such a high nutrient value. You will find 7 out of 8 essential amino acids, niacin, selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin B in shiitake mushrooms.
But that’s not all. The enzymes in these mushrooms enhance the absorption of your food. And it has shown a robust anti-cancer activity. This happens primarily through your ability.
Reishi
The Reishi mushroom has been hailed as nature’s own Xanax. It is super flavorful and one of the most popular medicinal mushrooms that you can buy. It has been noted that it can support weight loss, keep your immune system in check, and much like the shiitake mushroom above, it can help fight cancer cells. What gives this mushroom an extra punch is its antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. This mushroom is packed with triterpene, which is a mood-boosting compound that can help alleviate anxiety, depression, and encourage you to get a better night’s sleep. It has also been said that it can sharpen focus and promote healing too.
Cordyceps
The chances are you haven’t even heard of these mushrooms before; however, if you’re feeling a little low on energy and need a little bit of a boost, Cordyceps is definitely the fungus for you. This mushroom has been renowned for being incredibly stimulating and helping to raise your energy levels. It can also help the body utilize oxygen more efficiently, which will help enhance blood flow. And as if you need anything extra, it has also been shown to speed up post-workout muscle recovery. Which is incredible.
Lion’s Mane
This mushroom might actually have the coolest name, but it also does something amazing too. Lion’s Mane mushroom is often referred to as nature’s nutrient for the neurons. This is due to its incredible ability to stimulate NGF (nerve growth factor) production. And although NGF is tied into neurological functions, it actually has a huge impact in many other areas of the body, including our immunity. In this case, our immune cells express receptors for NGF, which allows for immuno-regulation when we have a supply of NGF. So having some lion’s mane mushroom tincture every day is going to help you boost your immune system and your brain too.
Chaga
If you are looking for one of the biggest hits of antioxidants and melanin in any substance on the entire planet, gram for gram, this mushroom has the highest amount. It is also packed with a huge amount of zinc, and all of this supports your immune system functions. Chaga is an effective immune booster, and interestingly Russian folklore tells of the fungus that grows on Birch Tree as having the ability to treat various cancers. This is why this one is firmly on the list when it comes to mushrooms, they can protect your immune system.
How do you take them?
This is just a small selection of functional mushrooms that can help improve your overall health, but with a significant focus on your immune system. This has many people asking “how do you incorporate them into your daily diet?”. Many of us have enjoyed mushrooms in salads and other cooked items. But you can actually find most of these mushrooms in powder form as well as dried, and tinctures. In fact, it is even possible to add some of these mushroom powders into your morning coffee.
There are some things to take into consideration, so if you are going to be adding any medicinal mushrooms into your diet, it might be worth having a chat with your doctor. It is important that you do a little bit of research about the fungus that you really want to take before you commit. The best way to start introducing any of these amazing mushrooms into your diet is a few tablespoons per day, and this can be in your pasta sauce, coffee, or in a smoothie.
When you incorporate something into your diet that is able to reduce inflammation in your body, help with anxiety, improve your energy levels, and even help you focus more, it makes sense that all of those things are going to help you feel great. It isn’t hard to see why so many people are adding mushrooms into their daily life as natural immunity support, when they are simply jam-packed with everything our body needs to keep working well and fend off illness.
